Prosecutors contend two brothers, Abed Jamil of Arlington and Joseph Abed of
Roanoke head the crime ring.
The brothers, four of their sons and two associates are charged with
racketeering and operating a continuing criminal enterprise from 19-89 until
their arrests last March.
They're accused of using arson to drive competing restaurants and
convenience stores out of business and to defraud insurance companies.
(----------------)

7Car-Tax

Abolishing the car tax in the Commonwealth will cost more money, according
to Governor-elect Jim Gilmore. Now, he says, it will also take more time.
Cities and counties that collect the tax use a variety of ways to assess
cars.
To draft a bill that covers all cases, more than 50 people in Gilmore's
transition team and the state government are working to untangle the tax web.
Gilmore said this weekend he's still committed to the tax relief, but
the legislation probably won't be ready when the legislature opens.

7E-Horticulture

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=djo
TAPE#=97-83
GRAPHIC=none

While it's finally cooling off and beginning to feel more like January, the
recent above normal temperatures didn't hang around long enough to damage
ornamental plants or crops.
David Johnson has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It may have
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :01
SUPER=01-Bob Lyons/Va. Tech Horticulture Professor; :08
SUPER=01-Doug Harris/Extension Agent; :19
SUPER=@David1; 1:31
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=Montgomery County

((It may have felt like springtime last week, but the brief stint did not
fool or harm plants and crops.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:26:39
((BOB LYONS/VA. TECH HORTICULTURE PROFESSOR; IT REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLY
BAD IF THE WARMER WEATHER LASTED A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THE WEEK OR SO WE
HAD DIDN'T DO THAT MUCH TO THE PLANTS IN TERMS OF THROWING THEM OFF SCHEDULE.))
RUNS=:10
BUTT/BUTT/BUTT
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:46
((DOUG HARRIS/EXTENSION AGENT; OUR SMALL GRAIN CROPS LIKE WHEAT AND BARLEY,
WE'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE GROWTH ON THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHENEVER THE
TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 32 DEGREES, WHEAT WILL GROW AND DEVELOP. AND THAT'S
HELPFUL TO US AT THIS STAGE AND THIS GROWTH.))
RUNS=:13

Crops won't be so lucky if the warm weather returns before winter ends.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:10
((HARRIS; IF WE HAD THIS TYPE OF WEATHER IN LATE FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WE'D BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CROPS HAVING SOME DAMAGE.))
RUNS=:06

Across the country, some plants have been fooled into thinking it's time to
bloom, like the cherry blossoms in Washington state.
There may be similar signs locally in daffodils and grape hyacinths.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:27:48
((IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT TO PANIC ABOUT BECAUSE THESE PLANTS HAVE VERY
PRECISE TIME CLOCKS INSIDE OF THEM. THEY'RE REGULATED VERY SPECIFICALLY BY
INTERNAL SUBSTANCES. JUST A WEEK HERE AND THERE OF WARM WEATHER IS PUSH A
LITTLE BIT OF THE PLANT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA THROW IT COMPLETELY OFF BALANCE.
))
RUNS=:15

Apples and peaches are very dormant, so they were unaffected by the warm
weather.
Crops may get off to a better start this year, due to some additional
moisture.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:13:27
((WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN GLAD TO SEE THIS RAIN OVER THE LAST WEEK. LAST YEAR WAS
SO DRY AND THE RAIN WE'VE HAD HAS BEEN REAL HELPFUL TO REPLENISH THE TOP SOIL
MOISTURE LEVELS.))
RUNS=:11
(----------------)
VO-NAT
STAND-UP/14:26:48
((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; SO THE CONSENSUS AMONG EXPERTS IS THE BRIEF PERIOD
OF WARM WEATHER DID NOT CAUSE ANY HARM AND IN SOME CASES MAY HAVE DONE SOME
GOOD. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.))
RUNS=:11))

45122-Ax

A single vehicle accident in Bedford County has left the driver in critical
condition.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but they say the driver
lost control of the vehicle and crossed the southbound lane of route 1-22.
The car hit an embankment and flipped, ejecting the driver, who was
airlifted to Roanoke Memorial.
(----------------)

45General-Assembly

The 19-98 General Assembly session is set to open this week.
The state's spending plan for the next two years will be a bit issue this
year.
Governor Allen's proposed 39- point- nine billion dollar budget left just
12- million dollars unspent.
But various interests -- from public
libraries to mental health advocates -- are asking for more than Allen offered.

45Car-Tax

Governor elect Jim Gilmore is now acknowledging that legislation on cutting
the dreaded car tax won't be ready for the start of the Legislature.
Gilmore says it will take more money and time to rid Virginians of the car tax.

Cities and counties that collect the tax use a variety of ways to assess
cars.
To draft a bill that covers all cases, more than 50 people in Gilmore's
transition team and the state government are working to untangle the tax web.
But Gilmore said this weekend he's still committed to the tax relief.

45Unseasonal-Wx

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=djo
TAPE#597-57
GRAPHIC=NONE

The warm temperatures last week are not expected to have a negative effect
on Spring plants and crops.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

Experts say the well above normal temperatures should not alter your
planting schedule.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:26:57
IN Q=THE WARM WEATHER
((BOB LYONS/VA. TECH HORTICULTURAL PROFESSOR; THE WARM WEATHER HAS PROBABLY PUT
PEOPLE'S HEADS IN THE MINDSET OF THINKING GARDENS MORE AND THINKING ABOUT
SPRING AND THINKING ABOUT PLANTS AND EVEN GOING OUT TO THE GARDENS AND LOOKING
FOR EVIDENCE OF LIFE AFTER THE WARM SPELL AND THEY'LL PROBABLY FIND SOME. BUT
IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LONG TERM IMPACT, IT WON'T AND IT
SHOULDN'T.))
SUPER=01-Bob Lyons/Va. Tech Horticulture Professor;
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=IT SHOULDN'T.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And as far as seasonal flowers go, it would take a longer winter dry spell
to harm them.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:30:28
IN Q=NOW THE
((LYONS; NOW THE PERINNIALS YOU MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOME SWELLING PERHAPS
AND MAYBE SOME BUD GROWTH. STILL IT WOULD TAKE A LONGER PERIOD OF WARMTH IN
ORDER TO PUSH THEM INTO FLOWERING.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=INTO FLOWERING.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Crops were not impacted by the short period of warm weather and benefitted
from the early rain and snow. Last year began with a very dry season.
(----------------)

45Common-Sense

19-98 is the perfect time for taxpayers to start saving money.
Scott Goldberg has a few suggestions in this week's edition of Common Sense.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=@Scott1;
SUPER=01-Gary Duerk/Brown, Edwards & Co.;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=I'm Scott Goldberg
(( If you're looking for ways to help relieve your tax burden in 19-98,
Gary Duerk of Brown, Edwards and Company says you might want to consider
transferring some of your income to your children.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:16:45
"TAX" TAPE
IN Q=FOR EXAMPLE
((GARY DUERK/BROWN, EDWARDS & COMPANY: FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN GIVE THEM SAVINGS
BONDS AND THEY CAN EITHER CLAIM THE INTEREST ON THOSE EACH YEAR OR WAIT TILL
THEY'RE REDEEMED. AND FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 14, THE FIRST 650 DOLLARS OF
UNEARNED INCOME IS TAX FREE AND THE NEXT 650 DOLLARS IS TAXED AT 15 PERCENT.
SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM SAFETY BONDS OR TREASURY BONDS OR AN INSURANCE POLICY, AND
YOU'VE MOVED THAT OFF OF YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN.))
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=tax return

Something else to figure into your financial plans for this year:
Parents get a 500-dollar tax credit for each child in the family.
And there's a another tax break available to help pay for your children's
first two years of college.
That's this week's Common Sense.
I'm Scott Goldberg.))

45WEATHER

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Taking a break from the news to check Monday's weather--
Cloudy, with scattered rain and drizzle.
Highs in the lower 40s.
Showers likely, with lows in the mid to upper 30s.
The extended forecast is damp--
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Cloudy, Scattered/Rain & Drizzle/40-45/Showers Likely/Light South
Wind/35-39;
SUPER=#555; reset

Prosecutors contend two brothers, Abed Jamil of Arlington and Joseph Abed of
Roanoke head the crime ring.
The brothers, four of their sons and two associates are charged with
racketeering and operating a continuing criminal enterprise from 19-89 until
their arrests last March.
They're accused of using arson to drive competing restaurants and
convenience stores out of business and to defraud insurance companies.
(----------------)

8122-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=lba
TAPE#97-
GRAPHIC=accident

A car accident in Bedford county sent the driver to the hospital.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but they say the driver
lost control of the vehicle and crossed the southbound lane of route 1-22.
The car hit an embankment and flipped, ejecting the driver, who was
airlifted to Roanoke Memorial.
(----------------)

8Car-Tax

The variety of ways Virginia localities assess vehicles is throwing a wrench
in Governor- Elect Jim Gilmore's plan to cut the car tax.
To draft a bill that covers all cases, more than 50 people in Gilmore's
transition team and the state government are working to untangle the tax web.
Gilmore said this weekend he's still committed to the tax relief, but
the legislation probably won't be ready when the legislature opens.

8E-Horticulture

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=djo
TAPE#=97-83
GRAPHIC=none

Recently, temperatures have been about 30- degrees above normal for this
time of year.
But David Johnson tells us it didn't last long enough to hurt ornamental
plants or crops.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It may have
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :01
SUPER=01-Bob Lyons/Va. Tech Horticulture Professor; :08
SUPER=01-Doug Harris/Extension Agent; :19
SUPER=@David1; 1:31
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=Montgomery County

((It may have felt like springtime last week, but the brief stint did not
fool or harm plants and crops.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:26:39
((BOB LYONS/VA. TECH HORTICULTURE PROFESSOR; IT REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLY
BAD IF THE WARMER WEATHER LASTED A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THE WEEK OR SO WE
HAD DIDN'T DO THAT MUCH TO THE PLANTS IN TERMS OF THROWING THEM OFF SCHEDULE.))
RUNS=:10
BUTT/BUTT/BUTT
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:46
((DOUG HARRIS/EXTENSION AGENT; OUR SMALL GRAIN CROPS LIKE WHEAT AND BARLEY,
WE'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE GROWTH ON THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHENEVER THE
TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 32 DEGREES, WHEAT WILL GROW AND DEVELOP. AND THAT'S
HELPFUL TO US AT THIS STAGE AND THIS GROWTH.))
RUNS=:13

Crops won't be so lucky if the warm weather returns before winter ends.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:10
((HARRIS; IF WE HAD THIS TYPE OF WEATHER IN LATE FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WE'D BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CROPS HAVING SOME DAMAGE.))
RUNS=:06

Across the country, some plants have been fooled into thinking it's time to
bloom, like the cherry blossoms in Washington state.
There may be similar signs locally in daffodils and grape hyacinths.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:27:48
((IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT TO PANIC ABOUT BECAUSE THESE PLANTS HAVE VERY
PRECISE TIME CLOCKS INSIDE OF THEM. THEY'RE REGULATED VERY SPECIFICALLY BY
INTERNAL SUBSTANCES. JUST A WEEK HERE AND THERE OF WARM WEATHER IS PUSH A
LITTLE BIT OF THE PLANT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA THROW IT COMPLETELY OFF BALANCE.
))
RUNS=:15

Apples and peaches are very dormant, so they were unaffected by the warm
weather.
Crops may get off to a better start this year, due to some additional
moisture.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:13:27
((WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN GLAD TO SEE THIS RAIN OVER THE LAST WEEK. LAST YEAR WAS
SO DRY AND THE RAIN WE'VE HAD HAS BEEN REAL HELPFUL TO REPLENISH THE TOP SOIL
MOISTURE LEVELS.))
RUNS=:11
(----------------)
VO-NAT
STAND-UP/14:26:48
((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; SO THE CONSENSUS AMONG EXPERTS IS THE BRIEF PERIOD
OF WARM WEATHER DID NOT CAUSE ANY HARM AND IN SOME CASES MAY HAVE DONE SOME
GOOD. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.))
RUNS=:11))

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Time now to look at the wet Monday forecast--
Scattered showers and drizzle are likely today, with temperatures holding
steady in the lower 40s.
More showers likely tonight, as lows cool into the mid to upper 30s.
The four day forecast calls for more showers off and on this week.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Cloudy, Scattered/Rain & Drizzle/40-45/Showers Likely/Light South
Wind/35-39;
SUPER=#555; reset